
By Sgt. Charlotte Carulli
In a recent statement, outgoing President Joe Biden expressed his belief that the “soul of America” is in jeopardy, occurring shortly before Donald Trump is anticipated to assume the presidency for a second term. In a letter made public on Wednesday morning, just hours prior to his farewell address to the nation, Biden called upon Americans to unite.
I sought the presidency because I was convinced that the essence of America was in jeopardy. The fundamental identity of our nation was at risk, and this remains true today, he stated. “History rests in your hands. The authority lies with you. The concept of America is within your grasp. We must maintain our faith and recall our true identity. We are the United States of America, and there is nothing we cannot achieve when we unite in purpose.
Although Trump was not directly mentioned in the correspondence, Biden and his Democratic Party associates have previously cautioned that the Republican president-elect, set to assume office on Monday, represents a danger to democratic principles. On January 6, 2021, a group of Trump supporters breached the US Capitol in Washington, DC, in an attempt to obstruct Congress from validating Biden’s electoral triumph over his Republican opponent.
Trump persists in asserting, without basis, that the 2020 election was manipulated against him and has committed to granting pardons to individuals convicted for their involvement in the January 6 insurrection. Earlier this week, President Biden delivered an extensive speech on foreign policy, emphasizing his administration’s dedication to fostering global alliances, among other priorities.
However, the Democratic president has faced significant criticism regarding his approach to critical international matters, particularly his steadfast support for Israel amid its ongoing military actions in the Gaza Strip. As discussions of a potential ceasefire in Gaza emerge in the lead-up to Trump’s inauguration, analysts have noted that Biden has, for several months, not exerted substantial pressure on Israel to cease its military operations, including the possibility of conditioning U.S. aid to this key ally.
The presidency of Joe Biden will be remembered for his decision last year to step back from a re-election bid, prompted by concerns regarding his age and his ability to serve another term effectively. His exit from the race was precipitated in July by a notably poor debate performance against Trump, which drew widespread criticism, including from leading Democrats.
Following this, Vice President Kamala Harris ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket but ultimately suffered a significant defeat to Trump in the November 5 election. David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Barack Obama, stated to Reuters, “Joe Biden aimed to be remembered for his significant contributions to the nation, yet, at least in the immediate context, those contributions have been overshadowed by his ill-advised choice to pursue re-election.” He added, “Biden’s victory over Trump marked a historic moment, but the resurgence of Trump, now more powerful than before, presents an unfortunate conclusion to this chapter.”